RICHARDSON, Texas - East Texas Baptist University and the University of Texas at Tyler were announced as co-recipients of the 2013-14 American Southwest Conference Sports Information Department Staff of the Year award during the annual meeting of the conference sports information directors on Monday (Aug. 4).
 
The sports information staff at East Texas Baptist is led by Adam Ledyard while Peyton Low and Jeff Williford direct the sports information operation at Texas-Tyler. Both institutions and their staffs are first-time recipients of the award as voted by the ASC sports information directors. It is also the first time in the six-year history of the award that co-winners have been selected.
 
Named sports information director at East Texas Baptist in 2012, Ledyard implemented a new website, expanded the marketing and branding of ETBU athletics and built relationships with media outlets throughout the East Texas region in addition to expanding contacts with national publications. Ledyard and his staff cover each of the Tigers' 12 varsity athletics teams, manage game-day media and press box operations, coordinate social media and produce content for the ETBU athletic website, www.etbusports.com. During the 2013-14 year, Ledyard and the ETBU staff coordinated media operations for the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Super Regional held in Marshall.
 
“I am very humbled by this award and being honored by my peers,” said Ledyard. “I had a great staff last year in Erik Holth, Kayla Franklin, Drew Dawson, and T.J. Barnes helping out. They deserve this award just as much as I do. I am grateful to use my gifts every day that God has given me to use and am thankful for those gifts.”
 
A native of Montpelier, Ohio, Ledyard graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in 1999 with a degree in communications. During his 14 years in sports media, Ledyard has worked at each level of collegiate athletics.
 
"We are excited for Adam and ETBU to be named co-winner of the Sports Information Department of the Year award," said ETBU Athletic Director Kent Reeves. "Adam is hard working and very conscientious of his profession. Adam does an outstanding job as our Sports Information Director and we feel he is very deserving of this award.”
 
In 2013-14, Low, Williford and the Texas-Tyler athletics communications staff provided coverage for a 17-sport athletics program that claimed nine ASC champion titles and hosted four conference championship tournaments. UT Tyler capped the year by coordinating media coverage and operations for the finals of the 2014 NCAA Division III Softball Championship in Tyler.
 
Low is a native of Tyler, Texas and a 2004 Texas-Tyler graduate with a degree in history. He began his career as the Patriots' sports information director in 2004 and was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director in 2012 where he coordinates public relations and athletics operations for all Patriots’ sports.
 
“Jeff and I are honored to receive this award of which all of our colleagues in the ASC are equally deserving,” said Low. “As always, our goal is to provide the best for our student-athletes and supporters.”
 
In two years as sports information director, Williford has overseen the implementation of a new website for Texas-Tyler sports (www.uttylerpatriots.com) and the introduction of the video blog, "The Inside Swoop.” Williford oversees game management, promotes the athletics department and University through social media, the athletics website, and special interest stories of student-athletes. He is the liaison between the athletic department and local media outlets.
 
A native of Lindale, Texas, Williford graduated from Texas-Tyler in 2011 with a degree in public relations. As an undergraduate, Williford was a student assistant in the athletics public relations office during 2010 and 2011.
 
"To add to Peyton's sentiments, just like the other schools in the ASC, we work hard to provide great information about our outstanding student-athletes, coaches, fans and community,” said Williford. “This award would not be possible without the support of Texas-Tyler Athletics, as well as the support from Dr. Mabry and Dr. Patterson."
 
"Texas-Tyler is very pleased to learn Peyton and Jeff have received this recognition from their peers," said Dr. Howard Patterson, Texas-Tyler Vice President for Student Affairs and Government Relations. "Our conference is blessed to have many talented media relations personnel and Peyton and Jeff certainly fit in this category and are deserving of this recognition. They do an amazing job making the Texas-Tyler student-athlete's experience as memorable as possible."
 
The 2013-14 ASC Sports Information Department of the Year award is the sixth presented since being instituted for the 2008-09 academic year.
 
All-Time ASC Sports Information Department of the Year

Year	Institution (Staff)
2013-14 (co)	East Texas Baptist University (Adam Ledyard)
	University of Texas at Tyler (Peyton Low, Jeff Williford)
2012-13	Mississippi College (David Nichols)
2011-12	The University of Texas at Dallas (Bruce Unrue, Dave Wester)
2010-11	Hardin-Simmons University (Chad Grubbs)
2009-10	University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Jon Wallin)
2008-09	Texas Lutheran University (Tim Clark, Patrick Zarate)